Chargers scouting report: Broncos

Look who’s not only back among the living, but coming back to town? Three weeks ago, one of the more encouraging aspects of the Chargers’ dismal, near-hopeless season was that they still had two games with the Broncos, who at 2-6 were off to an even worse start than San Diego.

Chargers' next opponent

Denver Broncos (3-6)

5:30 p.m. Monday at Qualcomm Stadium

Given two weeks-plus to rest and prepare for the Broncos, the Chargers got to spend their bye week Sunday with TVs tuned to Denver, which had a 35-0 lead on the Kansas City Chiefs in the second quarter. And, afterward, all quarterback Kyle Orton could talk about was how clean his pants looked. For good reason.

When the Broncos were struggling through the first half, Orton was throwing for lots of yards, but also being sacked 21 times. Denver used its bye week to revamp its offensive line, starting with the return of right tackle Ryan Harris from injury and shifting Zane Beadles to left guard. The direct result was Orton’s stain-free laundry in the K.C. game.

Don’t be surprised that Broncos rank 30th in run defense — much owing to the 328 yards run on them by Oakland and 233 by Baltimore — and neutralized the Chiefs’ league-leading ground attack. Because, well, that’s what a five-touchdown lead will do for you. It also explains how you beat a quarterback, Matt Cassel, who threw for 469 yards and four TDs on you.

Three players to watch

Kyle Orton, QB: If it weren’t for that other guy — the other quarterback in this game, that is — Orton might be considered the most lethal weapon in the AFC West this season. As has been the case with Philip Rivers — now deemed a genuine MVP candidate — Orton has spent much of the season trying to pass his team back into a game. His 2,806 yards passing is second in the league behind Rivers’ 2,944, and while Rivers has thrown for three more touchdowns (19-16), Orton’s been intercepted three fewer times (8-5). But also watch Orton leave the field sometimes when the Broncos get down close, down into Tim Tebow territory (see below).

Brandon Lloyd, WR: The Chargers gave up 18 receptions to Brandon Marshall in one game at Denver two years ago, then a game-securing touchdown catch to Brandon Stokley in the Broncos’ win at Qualcomm Stadium last year, and now the Broncos have another Brandon who’s the league-leading receiver. Lloyd has made a total of 48 catches count for six touchdowns and an NFL-best average of 107.6 yards per game.

Knowshon Moreno, RB: Moreno has a year on the Chargers rookie, but he’s basically been the Ryan Mathews of the Mile High City. Both were the 12th overall pick of the NFL draft, Moreno in 2009, and both have been having a hard time staying on the field due to injuries this season. Each has shown only flashes of the breakaway skills that made the most highly regarded runners in their draft class, perhaps getting more attention for their fumbles than their gains, and it took until the blowout of the Chiefs on Sunday for Moreno to produce his first 100-yard game.